67 Years And Still Going

May 11, 2008|By LORE MCDONALD, lmcdonald@dailypress.com 247-4780

Margaret Bressler says her recipe for a happy marriage is simple, for wives to put their husbands first and husbands to treat their wives the same. The recipe worked for the Bresslers. They recently celebrated their 67th anniversary.

It all began with their blind date. Margaret was 17 years old when she went with Clair K. "Pete" Bressler and another couple to a midnight movie in Washington, D.C., on New Year's Eve in 1937. Though Margaret resided in Richmond and Pete was working for Western Electric in Augusta, Ga., they were visiting friends and family in Arlington over the holidays. Afterward they kept in touch by writing letters, and their romance blossomed.

The couple was married April 26, 1941, and had a one-day honeymoon at a boarding house in Virginia Beach. Even though their honeymoon was a little short, they've never forgotten it. It's not every night that a newlywed couple wakes up in the middle of the night to find someone trying to crawl into bed with them.

As scary as that incident was, it turned out to be harmless. Another boarder, whose room had been switched, mistook their room for his. A little humor went a long way in that incident, said Margaret.

They settled for awhile in Hampton. Margaret earned her certified public accounting degree and worked until they had their first child. Two more boys followed and kept her busy at home.

Pete was transferred often to other work stations in and out of state. Before the children were in school, Margaret went with him.

Pete retired in 1975, and from then on they traveled. They enjoyed camping and are proud to note they camped in every state and explored all of Canada except for two provinces.

Now they live a "stone's throw" from two sons and their families on land that's been in the family since 1832. Family is important to them, and they are looking forward to hosting a family reunion this fall.

Pete, an avid stamp collector, enjoys working outdoors, especially in his garden. Margaret used to create jewelry with beads.

"I still get asked where I got those earrings," a pair that she made, "but now my eyesight won't let me ... ," she said.

The Bresslers have four grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. They worship at Gloucester Baptist Church.